Chain and indexing driving mechanism



Sept. 9, 1969 S. J. GARTNER ET AL CHAIN AND INDEXING DRIVING MECHANISMFiled June 14, 1967 LOAD/N6- 5 m r/oN 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 2. Q :3 j E: pk?v 3 J l r- $3 ca INVENTORS STANLEY J GARTNER Jo /v J F5650 Jhmss M.SMITH ifl/XWATTORNEY HENRY W P0555? Sept. 9, 1969 5. J. GARTNER E AL3,465,867

CHAIN AND IND FIXING DRIVING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 14,1967 mvamons' STH/VLEY'J @IIET/VER Jul/v J RAE- 5c HENRY W FOEBER BYJZJMES M SMITH v iyugm ATTORNEY xllmr r lllll nlAlllll Sept. 9, 1969 5.J. GARTNER ETAL 3,465,867

CHAIN AND INDEXING DRIVING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed June 14, 1967 INVENTORS STHNLEY J GflRT/VER JOHN J Rsezc HENRY WR0555? BY JZYMES M. SM/TH WZ/WATTORNEY P 1969 s. J. GARTNER ETAL3,465,867

CHAIN AND INDEXING DRIVING MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTORS STANLEY J GflRTNE/E JbH/V J AEqEc HENRY W 05552 James M.SMITH- Z4616 M ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1969 3. J GARTNER ETAL 3,

CHAIN AND INDEXING DRIVING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 14,1967 5 R 7 w m E wig w mm RH l ||hu1 $UMU HHHH H l O 0 Z W R m m U H/ fl0 O HHI I I IHH MHHW J H Y NW5 WMM mJHJ W 4;; ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1969$.J.GARTNER HAL CHAIN AND INDEXING DRIVING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet '2Filed June 14, 1967 INVENTORS 2 a m wmww w GHRS A JJWM HNWfi MW M M M 5m United States Patent US. Cl. 198--19 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF TIEDISCLOSURE An endless chain of articulated frames is drivenintermittently 'by a drive mechanism operating in a very general senselike the four motion cloth feed bar of a sewing machine. The runs of thechain are in a horizontal plane while the frames themselves are arrangedvertically. The frames are at such an elevation as to support cartscarried thereby oif the floor level, these carts supporting mechanismsto perform various operations on articles, such as cathode ray tubessupported on the carts and while the tubes are transported throughprocessing areas. The carts themselves are detachably hung on the framesand supplied with casters so that when removed from the frames they maybe rolled away, as for servicing them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to machinery utilizedin the processing of cathode ray tubes and particularly to theprocessing of television picture tubes and is concerned still moreparticularly with the means for mounting carts carrying the tubes on anendless conveyor of articulated frames and transporting the cartsintermittently through work stations. In the prior art these tubes weretransported on carts which travelled on the ground or on rails on theground as in Johnson et al. 2,532,315, De Groat 2,570,103 or Miller etal. 2,785,509. This travel might become impeded by reason of breakage ofglassware on the cart falling onto the ground or track, therebyimpairing the functioning of the apparatus operative on the picturetube. The motion of the carts was effected by various types ofmovements. However, the motion of the chains in this invention is by thefour motion feed referred to above. It might be of interest to note thefeeds in Bayer 1,340,648, Chaplin 2,559,945, Moulin 2,784,599 and Hudson2,961,879.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention toovercome the difficulties of the prior art. This is effected by mountingthe carts on frames articulated with one another to form an endlesscarrier. The carts are supported wholly by the frames clear of the flooror any rails thereon.

It is a further object of this invention to provide rugged means tointermittently drive the conveyor of articulated frames. Other objectswill become apparent after reading the following specification whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic top plan view of the conveyorapparatus used in a machine for exhausting the air from and otherwiseprocessing a picture tube;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatusof FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the machine at anindexing station;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

lce

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on theline 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of a locking cam and associatedlocking latches of the indexing mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the locking cam asseen from the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view partly insection, of a locking latch and associated mechanism taken substantiallyon the line 1010 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view on a smaller scale, and partly insection, of the drive mechanism of the indexing mechanism, taken on theline 11-11 of FIG. 6.

CHAIN AND INDEXING MECHANISM THEREFOR The invention is illustrated asembodied in a machine for processing television picture tubes involvinga chain and chain drive, the chain being modified to support carts whichin turn support machinery for effecting exhausting of the air from thepicture tube and otherwise treating the same, including sealing off theexhaust stem of the picture tube, directly and inductively heatingelectrodes in the tube and releasing the getter therein.

The cart support chain 10, FIG. 1, provides an endless series ofarticulated carriers, the chain having runs parallel to a horizontalplane and riding on a track 18, FIG. 2, which is elevated above thefloor level and which is generally in the form of a long oval withstraight parallel reaches 12 and 14 and rounded ends 16.

The elevated track 18, see FIGS. 2 and 5, is secured to brackets 20Welded or otherwise secured to vertical I-beams forming posts 22 spacedapart along the whole length of the oval. The lower end of each of theposts is secured to a foot plate 24 fastened to the ground and braced byan inclined prop 26 fixed to the foot plate and to the post. At theupper end of every alternate post there is provided a cross beam 28,FIG. 1, spanning the space between the reaches of the track and fastenedto the post to attain a rigid track supporting structure.

Running parallel to the track 18 and secured to the top of the posts isa chain guideway, FIGS. 2 and 5, in the form of an inverted channelcomprised of a top web member 30, a front plate 32 and an angle iron 34.The rounded end sections 16 of the track are telescopically associatedwith the parallel reaches of the track as indicated at 36, FIG. 1, eachof the end sections 16 being supported by a carriage 38 whose wheelsride on a base block 40 beneath the carriage, said base block beingfixed to the ground. The support of each of the end sections of the railis afforded by channel beams 42 or other appropriate meansinterconnecting portions of the end rail sections and its carriage 38.To urge each end section of the rail in a direction to extend the chain,each of the end sections is provided with a pair of air cylinders 44secured to a channel beam 46 fixed on the associated block 40, thepistons of these cylinders being connected to the carriage 38. Duringoperation of the machine, air pressure is constantly applied to thecylinders to urge the carriages in directions to maintain the cartsupporting chain taut. It is obvious that other means may be employed tomaintain the chain taut, as springs interposed between the beam 46 andthe carriage.

Below the track 18 and offset inwardly of the oval track is a thrustrail 48, FIG. 5, Whose purpose will be disclosed. This thrust rail issupported from each of the posts by a bracket 50. Also mounted on eachof the posts is a bracket 52 for supporting a trough 54 parallel withthe track and rail and suitably supplied with water. The purpose of thistrough will also be described later. In addition, each of the supportsis provided with a bracket 56 to which an angle iron 57 is fastened,this angle iron running parallel to the track 18, intermediate thevertical level of the track and thrust rail 48. This angle iron supportsinsulation blocks 58 to which are fastened three vertically spacedendless contact bars 60 suitably supplied with current, as aconventional 3 phase 60 cycle current for operating 120 and 240 voltequipment on the carts.

The chain itself is composed of a number of identical verticalrectangular frames 62, FIGS. 2 and 7, articulated together, these framesserving as cart supports. Each frame has an upper horizontal channeliron 64 provided at each end with a stub axle 66 supporting a roller 68riding on the upper edge of the track 18. The other peripheral membersof the rectangular frame are composed of angle irons 70, 72 and 74, theleft hand and right hand angle irons 70 and 72 each having a slot 76, 78therein, respectively, the slot 78 in the right hand angle iron 72 beingslightly wider than slot 76 in the left hand angle iron 70 to facilitatethe hanging onto the frame of a cart with a pair of support lugs each ofa width to just fit the width of slot 76. The cart may be hung veryeasily by first engaging a lug with the wider slot 78 and then adjustingthe position of the cart laterally, if needed, to cause the remaininglug to engage slot 76. Also positioned on each of the angle irons 70'and 72, adjacent the bottom thereof is an adjustable stop bolt 80 to beengaged by the lower end of a cart hooked onto the frame as well as acam wedge 82 to assist the downward sliding movement of and positioningof the cart during the emplacement of the cart on the chain. The boltmay be adjusted to obtain a vertical positioning of the cart. Alsolocated on the uprights 70 and 72 are lugs 84 (FIGS. 2 and 3) forholding a perforated screen 86 in position, which screen issubstantially coextensive with the dimensions of a frame. Braces 88reinforce the frame and a vertical bar 90 is provided, fastened to theirons 64 and 74, this bar supporting on the backside thereof threeinsulated from each other contact shoes 92 making sliding connectionwith the three contact bars 60 supported by the posts 22, the shoesbeing connected by a three wire conductor 94 to a receptacle 96 mountedon the channel bar 64 of the frame. This receptacle is one source ofelectrical supply for the mechanisms on the cart suspended on the frame.Midway of the length of the lower rail 74 of the frame is a boss 98,FIG. 5, for supporting the stub axle 100 of a roller 102, the stub axlebeing mounted in place by a lock washer and nut combination 104. Thisroller rides against the thrust rail 48. The left hand vertical bar 70of each frame, at its upper end is provided with a pair of spaced ears106 and 108 and the right hand bar 72 of each frame is provided with anear 110 interdigitated with the ears 106 and 108. A pin 112 traversesbearings in the interdigitated ears to form a pivotal joint betweenadjoining frames. The pin extends above the ear 106 and mounted on theupper end of the pin is a pair of independently rotatable rollers 114riding in the chain guideway composed of the members 30, 32 and 34. Theears 110 and 108 are spaced from each other vertically of the pin 112 toleave exposed a vertical section of pin 112 whereby that section of thepin may be engaged for indexing movement of the chain of frames or forholding the chain of frames in an indexed position.

To effect these chain indexing and holding functions, the followingmechanism is provided:

Substantially centrally of the length of the chain conveyor, see FIGS.4, 6 and 11, and located between the reaches of the chain is a supportstructure comprising a ground plate 120', FIG. 6, to which is secured apair of uprights 122, as by screws 124, which may be so threaded thatthey may be adjusted to secure proper height of the operating mechanism.The fastenings of one of the uprights, see FIG. 11, holds an auxiliaryplatform 127 in place on which is mounted an electric motor 128 withpulley 129 and on a platform 126 between the posts 122 is a speedreducing gear box 130 having an input shaft 132 4 with pulley 134 fastthereon connected to the motor by a belt 136, the belt being tightenedby conventional means, as by adjusting the crank 138 and shifting themotor in a direction to tighten the belt.

The gearing in gear box 130, FIG. 6, drives a vertical shaft 140-, FIG.6, which is coupled to a driving clutch element within air clutch casing142, the driven element of said air clutch being coupled to a hollowdriven shaft 144 supported in bearings 146 in a tube 148 secured to theupper and lower walls of a rectangular in cross section hollow beam 150fixed to the top of uprights 122. Timed pulses of air, under pressure,are applied to a nipple 152 journaled in the hollow shaft 144 andtherethrough to the movable clutch element within the air clutch casin gto intermittently effect coupling of the clutch and drive of the shaft144. Whenever air is supplied to the clutch, the chain of frames will beindexed one step and then locked in indexed position.

Fixed on the shaft 144 is a spur gear 154 driving two gears 156 and 158.The gears 156- and 158 are mounted on secondary shafts 160 and 162,respectively, journalled in bearings like the bearings 146. To the upperend of secondary shaft 162 is fastened a pinion 166. Pinion 164 drivesan index gear 168 fixed to a shaft 170 and pinion 166 drives a lock gear172 fixed to a shaft 174. Both shafts 170 and 174 are journalled withrespect to hollow beam 150 in the same manner as shafts 144, 160 and162.

Index gear 168 has eccentrically mounted thereon a pin 176 engaging in aslideway 178 on the underside of a carriage 180 having bearings 182,184, FIG. 4, reciprocatable on fixed rods 186, 188. Therefore, as gear168 rotates, the carriage 180 will be reciprocated along the rods 186,188. Above the slideway 178 and fixed to the carriage is a secondslideway in which is reciprocatable an indexng slide 182 integral with aforked index latch finger 194, adapted when projected from the slidewayto engage about a pivot pin 112 in the space between the ears 108 and110 to effect the engagement necessarily incident to the indexingmovement of the chain of frames. To effect shift of the slide, the rearthereof is provided with a roller 196 engageable in a slideway 198 of aswingable frame 200 fixedly secured to a shaft 202 journalled inbearings 204 at the upper end of extensions 206 from brackets 208attached to the uprights 122, which extensions may be adjusted in heightby manipulation of adjusting screws 210. The rods 186, 1 88 also aresupported by the same extensions 206.

The carriage 180 and its associated elements as well as the swingingframe 200 and its associated elements are duplicated for each of the tworeaches of the chain of frames and the drive mechanism is so arrangedthat when index latch finger 194 is driving one reach of the chain offrames in one direction by reason of reciprocation of carriage 180 inone direction, the opposite corresponding latch finger is moving theother reach of the chain in the opposite direction so that both fingers194 move the whole chain of frames in one direction.

To effect coincident movement of both carriages 180, the index gear 168is provided with a cam 214 on the underside of the gear, said camcooperating with a cam follower 216, FIG. 4, on the end of an arm 218integral with a lever 220 pivoted intermediate its ends, as on a stubshaft 222 fixed on the hollow beam 150. Stretched between a pin 224 onone end of the lever and a pin 226 projecting from extension 206 is alink arrangement including a spring 228 to maintain the follower 216against cam 214. Adjacent the pin 224 on the lever 220 is a second pin230 connected by a link 232 to a side member of the swingable frame 200at a point below its axis of rotation, to oscillate the frame when thelever is oscillated. The opposite frame 200, at the lower portion ofFIG. 4, is connected to the opposite end of lever 220 by a telescopiclink 234. The link is urged to its extended position by a spring 236between sections of the link and the link itself is connected between apivot 238 on the frame 200 below the shaft 202 and a pivot 240 on theend of lever 220. The telescopic spring link is provided to ensuresimultaneous engagement of both index fingers without too much fineadjustment of the length of the links 232 and 234. The cam 214 willcause the fingers 194 to be in projected position when the carriages arebeing reciprocated in one direction of reciprocation and to be inretracted position during its other direction of motion, the motion ofthe carriage and its finger being much like that of a sewing machinecloth feed or four way motion.

Between indexing movements of the conveyor, it is held againstdisplacement by a set of locking fingers, one for each reach of thechain. The mechanism involved for effecting the action of the lockingfingers is as follows:

Below the lock gear 172 and fastened to it is a lock cam 242.Cooperating with this lock cam is a cam follower 244 on the end of anarm 246 integral with a lever arm 248 pivoted on a stub shaft 250mounted on the beam 150. Close to the end of the arm 248 is a pin 252and stretched between this pin and a pin 254 fixed in extension 206 is aspring 256 tending to maintain cam follower 244 against its cam. Theouter end of lever 248 is connected by a link 258 to the arm of a lever260 pivoted on a fixed pivot 262 on an extension from a cross brace 263interconnecting the brackets 206, a second arm of the lever beingconnected by a pitman 264 to a lock slide 266 having a forked finger 268to embrace a pin 112 in one reach of the chain of frames when the fingeris projected from a slideway 270 fixed to the extension 206. A link 272connected to the first arm of lever 260 is connected to a companion lockslide operative on the opposite reach of the chain of frames. Thecoordination of index cam 214 and lock cam 242 is such that when theindex fingers are advancing the chain of frames, the lock fingers areout of engagement with the chain. Just as the indexing stops and whilethe index fingers are being withdrawn from the pins engaged by them, thelock fingers are brought to embracing engagement of ensuing pins 112 tolock the chain against movement until the index fingers are againprojected to embrace the pins 112 next adjacent the pins 112 engaged bythe lock fingers. Since the lock fingers work under the force appliedthereto by the link 258, to make doubly sure that the index fingers arein locking position when they should be, a second, lock control cam 274,FIGS. 8 and 9, is provided coaxial with cam 242 on the lower end ofshaft 174, this cam controlling a valve 276 controlling the fluid ofcompressed air to adjacent air motor 278 and the corresponding motor 278adjacent the other reach of the chain. Each motor (FIG. 10) has itscylinder fixed to an extension 206 as through the intermediary of bosses280. The piston rod 282 of each motor is connected to the lower end of alever 284 pivoted at 286 to extension 206, the upper end of lever 284being provided with a roller 288 to press against the rear end of slide266 when locking of the chain against movement is required.

In order to brace the upper end of pivot shaft 222, FIG. 4, a braceblock 290 is provided in which the shaft 222 rotates and two brace links292 are provided interconnecting the brace block with the extensions206.

As the chain indexes, the frames carry with them the carts, suspendedfrom the frames and free of contact with the floor. One of these cartsis shown at 300 in FIG. 5. It comprises a framework having a bottomplate 302 on which may be bolted various kinds of machinery utilized inthe processing of a picture tube such as the picture tube 304 shown assupported by an upstanding framework 306 and coupled by a suction portcoupling 308 to exhaust mehcanism in the cart. Though not shown, abombarding coil is also mounted on the cart which, when the cart isloaded with a picture tube, is hand shifted to an appropriate positionabout the neck of the tube so that when the coil is energized, picturetube processing is facilitated. The machinery in the cart may comprise anumber of air exhausting pumps such as is well known in the art and awater cooling arrangement for at least one of the exhaust pumpsinvolving a water pump having inlet pipe 310 and outlet pipe 312, bothpipes being submerged in the water in trough 54. In addition, varioustrip arms, as bell crank levers 314 and 316, are located on the cart tobe engaged (see FIG. 1) by pins 318 on posts 320 which posts may bearranged in a path traversed by the arms 314 and 316 as the chainindexes. When engaged by the pins, the bell cranks 314 and 316 will beoscillated to close or open certain circuits for processing the picturetube in accordance with processing program selected. Also spring pressedshoes, such as 322, are provided on the carts to engage electricconductors 324 supported by the posts to conduct current to certainpieces of machinery in the carts, the conductors being of a length andpositioned in accordance with the selected program. Also conductor 325on the cart plugged into receptacle 96 will provide for additionalcurrent supply to machinery on each cart.

Since the machinery on the cart is not part of this invention, nodetailed description thereof appears to be necessary. Reference is againmade to detailed disclosure of the machinery in the carts as, forexample, is disclosed in Miller et al. 2,785,509 or Johnson et al.2,532,315 for further enlightenment in this regard.

The cart is provided with rollers or casters 326 to enable rolling ofthe cart when dismounted from the conveyor and resting on the floor. Thecart also has two in verted L-shaped hooks 328 of equal size adapted toengage in the slots 76 and 78 of angle irons 70 and 72. In actualpractice of the invention, there is provided close to the loadingstation, FIG. 1, a pair of fioor embedded elevators, as at locations 330and 332, the one at location 330 being operated to engage beneath andinitially lift a cart to lift the hooks on the carts out of engagementwith the lower edge of slots in the frames, the cart when being rolledslightly away from the chain conveyor so as to completely disengage thebooks from the slots, prior to lowering the elevator and sinking of theelevator so the top thereof is flush with the floor. The elevator atlocation 332 is operated to lift a cart rolled onto the elevator tocoupling level with the chain conveyor, the cart then being pushedforward to cause hook entrance into the slots in the frames whereuponthe second elevator is lowered, to allow the hooks to lower in the slotsand couple the carts to the frames.

We claim:

1. A conveyor comprising in combination:

a base having upstanding posts;

a trackway affixed to and supported by said posts, said trackwayincluding an endless upper track and an endless thrust rail, said trackand thrust rail being in planes parallel to said base, horizontallydisplaced from one another, and vertically spaced from one another andfrom said base;

an endless chain of frames articulated to one another and afiixed to andsupported by said trackway, each of said frames including means forriding on said upper track to effect support therefor against downwardgravitational movement, means on one face near the lower portion thereoffor contacting said lower thrust rail to effect support of said frameagainst swinging motion in at least one direction, and means includingslotted frame members for supporting an object on the other face of saidframe in a cantilever fashion; and

carts having lugs thereon and extending laterally therefrom, said lugsbeing adapted for engagement with said slotted frame member.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means forintermittently advancing said endless chain of frames.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a pin for effectingarticulation of adjacent frames and said means for intermittentlyadvancing said endless chain of frames includes an element adapted toengage said pin.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting anobject on the other face of said frame includes a slot in each of twolateral side members of said frame.

' 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the slots in the two lateralside members of said frame are of different widths.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said carts have a pair of lugsthereon extending laterally therefrom, said slots being adapted forengagement by said lugs of said carts.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the slots in each of the twolateral side members of said frame are of different widths with one ofsaid slots formed to snugly engage one of said pair of lugs of said cartand the other of said slots being wider to provide free engagement ofthe other of said pair of lugs of said cart.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said carts are References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,431,536 10/1922 Maloney l04119 1,477,494 12/1923Hutchison 104-119 2,311,640 2/ 1943 Cornell 198181 2,990,940 7/1961Merchant 198-181 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.198135

